School in clear over teaching creation

A CHRISTIAN school that teaches a biblical view of creation in
science classes has been cleared of breaching state curriculum
requirements for the teaching of evolution.

The NSW Board of Studies has found that Pacific Hills Christian
School at Dural has met its requirements for teaching the science
syllabus, including evolution, to years 7 to 10.

The board said it had not substantiated a complaint about how
science was taught at the school. Its investigation involved an
assessment by the school's overseeing body, Christian Schools
Australia, and its own inspection of curriculum and teaching
materials.

The board's curriculum director was given access to the school's
intranet to review the school's curriculum documents. The director
also observed several science classes and class work on
evolution.

The board's science inspector reviewed the school's educational
programs for science, including student work samples and assessment
tasks. A board spokeswoman said the reports found the school was
meeting its science curriculum requirements and this was endorsed
by the board's registration committee.

An inquiry by Christian Schools Australia also cleared the
school of failing its duty to teach evolution theory
appropriately.

The head of Christian Schools Australia, Stephen O'Doherty,
said: "It was a very thorough process in which the Board of Studies
conducted its own inquiries and came to its own conclusions based
on empirical evidence, and it is very pleasing that they confirmed
the findings that our registration system made."

The original complaint was made by the former president of the
Secondary Principals Council, Chris Bonnor. He raised his concerns
after he viewed a sample of how science was taught at Pacific Hills
on an SBS television program. He said he was not satisfied with the
outcome of the board inquiry.

"Notwithstanding the extent to which that lesson may or may not
be typical of science teaching at the school, I remain concerned
that the Board of Studies has not commented on the appropriateness
of advice given to students by the teacher in that science lesson.
I still want to know whether it is appropriate for a science
teacher to exhort his or her students to consider what God's
revelation through his scripture shows you, so that you can come to
some clear understanding about your view of evolution."

The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the board's ruling set a
dangerous precedent that had "opened the floodgates to a religious
invasion of the curriculum". The board had failed in its duty to
protect the integrity of the science curriculum, he said.

"Every fundamentalist private school in NSW will be emboldened
by this decision."

In response, the board said its position on teaching evolution
as evidence-based science had not changed and it was satisfied
Pacific Hills had complied with its curriculum requirement.

The board spokeswoman said: "Parents are entitled to choose
schools for their children that support their own beliefs. However,
it has been repeatedly made clear to faith-based and other schools
that creationism is not part of the mandatory science curriculum,
cannot take the place of any part of the mandatory science
curriculum, and will not be assessed in the mandatory School
Certificate science test."